The knife and fork should mirror each other: tuck the handles into your palms and rest your index fingers on the handles It's fine to use a fork on its own for meals such as pasta, but obviously use a knife for food that needs cutting. If you've cleared your plate but would like seconds, it's customary to rest your knife and fork in the twenty past eight position. if you've finished, put them together with the prongs (known as tines) facing upwards and the blade facing inwards